Chapter Text
After Deaton showed him how to heal the Nemeton and gave him tips and exercises on how to start trying to control the Spark, Stiles was ecstatic to return to Derek, especially now that there wasn’t a sacrifice hanging over his head. He thought – well, he didn’t know what he thought. There wasn’t a ton of time between all the events. Just the idea of him and Derek enjoying some time together sounded great, and he was pretty sure Derek would be agreeable to the idea. But, when he finished at the Nemeton and Deaton brought him to the Hale’s dwellings, he found Derek and the rest of the Hale’s in mourning. Instead of a celebration, he found a funeral.
After Deaton introduced him, Talia Halethanked him for his help. And that was it. Derek never even looked up from the ground. So Stiles had swallowed his feelings down and left with Scott and Lydia. Lydia traveled with them as far as her forest before she waved good bye.
Stiles thought about wishing her luck, but he doubted that she needed it. For once, he was the silent in their travels as Scott chatted nonstop on the way back home. While Stiles was working on the Nemeton, Scott had enough time to talk to Kira, who was Noshiko’s daughter, Isaac, Boyd, and Erica and was recounting some of the cooler things he had seen in battle. Stiles let him talk, although he tuned him out after the first five minutes. He had no desire to think of the Wolf-People anytime soon.
They arrived to frantic parents – even Scott’s father was back from the castle where he worked, and Stiles had only seen him once in his life. Hell, Scott had only seen him once in his life. It didn’t take long to explain the situation to Claudia, who immediately understood.
All Stiles wanted to do was forget about his exciting little adventure and go back to his old life. Or really, sulk back into his old life, and mope around, but there was no time for that. Claudia left a few days after Stiles and Scott returned to visit the Shrine of Eris and Morrell. She returned early the next morning and had a long and whispered conversation with Stiles’ father and then with Melissa. The next thing Stiles knew, she was sending him and Scott to go live in the Dark Forest. Claudia promised that Deaton would be waiting for them. It was arranged for his safety. If word spread of the Keeper of the Spark and its power, she wanted him where he could be protected. She also thought that he could learn a lot from the Wolf-People on how to control his Spark. She said that they too had a power they had to learn how to control. Stiles half-heartedly protested; he knew it was a good plan, and Scott was excited to head back. Their parents promised to visit soon, and Claudia was going to take over looking over the garden again.
Before Stiles and Scott had even walked over a mile away from their home, Danny appeared in their path. Lydia had sent him to act as his body guard. Stiles was less than amused, but he proved helpful. Stiles didn’t have the mind to keep an eye out for other travelers, whereas Danny was able to keep them unseen until they reached the borders of the Dark Forest where Deaton met them.
Stiles tried to ignore his heart and its nervous beating at the thought of seeing Derek again.
Derek had lost himself when he saw Laura’s dead body; all he could think of was the dozen mistakes he had made and how he could have prevented it. When he went to turn to Stiles for comfort – he was gone. The next few days he grieved for her and the one that left. His friends stayed close, trying to help, but eventually he only let Kira stay. She wouldn’t say anything, but let him grief.
His mother was insanely busy. Laura was not the only one they lost that night. There were many ceremonies to hold and lead with Deaton. Laura’s was the last one to do, three days later. Her husband had carried her to the Nemeton, and Talia had spoken the words for remembrance before Deaton lit her body on fire. An hour later, ashes were all that remained, which were swept into the forest by the wind. One by one, the family left until he and his mother remained.
Talia went and stood next to Derek, putting her arm around his shoulders.
“Maybe this was for the best,” she whispered.
Derek turned to her, repulsed.
Talia gave him a sad, little smile. “Now, she’s finally at peace”
“She’s dead,” Derek said bluntly, staring at his mother in horror.
“Everyone’s time comes eventually, Derek. You know that,”
Derek shook his head. “This wasn’t right. She was so young and vibrant. She was meant to lead.”
“She was,” Talia agreed. “Many years ago. She wouldn’t have been able to after the miscarriage.”
Derek winced, trying to push down on the memories that started to resurface.
“Derek, I know you loved your sister, and she was a strong and amazing woman. But that night changed her.” Talia walked forward to the Nemeton, knelt down and placed her hand upon it. “It changed a lot of us. As your parent and your alpha, I’ve tried to prepare you for a lot of things. I never thought I had to prepare any of you for that. It ripped her apart.”
They stayed as they were. Talia looked upon the Nemeton, deep in thought as Derek recalled Laura’s last few years. She and her husband had been fighting. She showed up at their childhood home more and more. Now that he thought about it, she had almost reverted to the child she once was. She took over the same chores and made fun of him over the same old things. Now, Derek realized she was haunted by her life with her husband; her adult life.
Eventually, Talia stood up and went back to her son. “All I’ve ever wanted is for my children to be happy. I’d like to think that now she is.”
She left then, leaving Derek alone with his thoughts.
It was hard to come to terms with Laura’s death and accepting it as the best fate, but he threw himself into his training. He and Kira practiced sword fighting, which he wasn’t any good at. It was good for him, and kept him busy.
A week later, they were training out in the forest, away from the village center. Derek had cuts rapidly healing all over his body from when he was too slow and Kira nicked him with her sword. He was faltering; his body tired from having to heal constantly. A few minutes later she beat him, her sword pointed at his throat, and his back up against a tree.
Before Derek could say he surrendered, yelling startled both of them.
“Stop! What do you think you’re doing?”
The voice sounded painfully familiar, but before Derek could confirm anything, branches wrapped Derek up and threw him away from Kira. When he looked up, Kira was imprisoned by vines, and Stiles and Scott were standing in front of her.
Both of Sties and Kira were yelling.
Derek got up and made his way over to the trio. He was going to defend Kira, that was his whole goal, but instead the first words out of his mouth were, “I thought you left.”
Stiles snapped his mouth shut and looked at him. “I-uh. Did. I came back.”
“Why?”
Stiles looked irritated at the questions and crossed his arms. “Why did I leave or why did I return?
“I-“ Derek wasn’t really sure what he was asking. He glanced at Scott who also crossed his arms in solidarity. “Both.”
Stiles shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter, “ he muttered. “I’m staying here.”
“How long have you been back?” Derek asked, not able to stop himself from asking another question.
“Almost two weeks."
Derek’s heart dropped in his chest. Stiles hadn’t even cared enough to see him. “Oh.”
“If you let me go, I’ll tell you a secret,” Kira said, wriggling her arms that were encircled by the vines. They immediately started to loosen.
“You’re control has gotten better,” Derek muttered.
Stiles didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to Kira. “So, what’s this about a secret?”
“He’s been moping for the past two weeks. One because he lost friends and family that day and two, because you left.”
Derek flinched. He would’ve expected that out of Erica or Isaac, but not Kira. She’s normally more respectful of his feelings, but then Stiles looked at him, wide-eyed and hopeful.
“I didn’t think you noticed I was gone,” He said, speaking to the dirt floor.
Derek scowled. “Or course I did.”
Stiles didn’t look too convinced, so Derek tried to remember the aftermath of the battle with the Durach. Nothing stood out, he vaguely remembered Deaton showing up at his house with visitors in tow. Belatedly, Derek realized that he left Stiles with Deaton, and never made an effort to find him and welcome in into his home and pack. After all, Stiles was the one in the strange place.
“I’m sorry,” Derek said. “I was in mourning for my sister. I didn’t think – I was having trouble thinking, to be honest. I just remember thinking you should be there and you weren’t.”
Stiles’ eyebrows rose. “What do you mean, I should’ve been there?”
Derek hesitated and looked to Kira for help, she gestured at Stiles obviously. “It felt like you should be there. It was right. Like you belonged. It – threw me when you weren’t. I thought you left because you didn’t want to be. Here. With me.”
Stiles smacked his lips together loudly and then turned to Scott. “Why don’t you and Kira go get acquainted or something?”
Scott turned bright red as he looked at Kira. Kira flushed too, and broke into a huge smile. “Do you want to see my sword collection?”
Both Derek and Stiles snorted as Scott nodded quickly and scampered off after Kira.
Stiles cleared his throat, getting Derek’s attention. “I left because I thought you didn’t care if I stayed. I realize now it was stupid. I didn’t know you lost anyone, but so many people died that night – I should’ve known you would’ve known someone.”
Derek nodded. “My sister, Laura.”
Stiles’ mouth opened in shock. “Shit, Derek. I’m so sorry. After everything she’s gone through. . .”he trailed off and shook his head in sympathy.
It made Derek’s heart clench a little that Stiles remembered her story.
“Mom thinks it might be for the best – because of it.”
Stiles looked at him assessing. “Do you?”
“For her? Probably. She was haunted. But,” Derek sighed, and ran a hand over his face.
“But, it doesn’t make it any easier for you,” Stiles finished for him. Derek nodded.
“It’s selfish of me.”
“It’s human,” Stiles argued.
They stood there in silence.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that alone. I should’ve been there,” before Derek could interrupt him, Stiles corrected himself. “I wanted to have been there.
Derek’s mouth felt dry when he opened it again. “Do you still want to be here?”
Stiles nodded.
Derek took a deep breath before he continued. “Things have been changing for me. Because of Laura, and because I found you. It probably won’t settle down for a few months, but maybe we can see if – by then. Maybe you could stay with me, then.”
Stiles grinned. “Yeah?”
Derek nodded. “If things work out between now and then.”
“I think we can work something out,” Stiles whispered against Derek’s lips before kissing him.
Derek was more than happy to kiss back.